pressure
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Hi, Kiah here!
First, my answer to Cindy and Cornelia. I think the best thing you can do
is
to talk about the media, starting when the girl is young. The adult must
remember though, that there could be times when the girl is really against
talking about it, in which case actions and comments are the best way to go
(like not watching things that portray girls as only skin deep and telling
them that they are beautiful the way they are, without saying it in a way
that sounds fake).
With a younger girl, pointing out things in the media every chance you get
is best. examples could be, telling her how unrealistic this or that model
looks, telling her (again) that she is beautiful the way she is and
laughing
at how unrealistically Barbie is shaped. These might not seem like much,
but
if there said alot it will stay with the girl and really help when she gets
older.
Another thing we should be aware of (which we all do) is commenting on how
people look, such as saying "That dress looks really good on you" and "That
ring makes you look very pretty. These are fine, as long as they are
hearing
stuff like "You're so brave and caring" and "I love the way you can make me
feel better when I am sad" also. Alot of the statements about external
things
without the comments about inner qualities will give a girl the image at a
young age that beauty is superficial.
A young girl (like 1-7) is always hearing how they are so cute and pretty,
and even though they might not think of it as being harmful, it seeps into
them and gives them the idea that they have to be pretty to be excepted.
When they get older and start seeing things on the media, it just feeds the
idea that you have to look this way, and the desire to be told you're
pretty
again (now by peers instead of parents)
In answer to Sundra, I think that friends can make things harder for you or
easier. Like if you have a friend who is really into what the media says
and
does exactly what she is told by the media, it is harder for you not to go
with the flow. But if you have a friend who does not care what the media
has
to say and does what she feels like doing, it is easier for you to be
yourself.
Because I am home schooled, peer pressure does not always hit me as strong
as
girls in school, but I still experience it and I have friends who it is
even
stronger for.
I have to be somewhere in 20 minuets, so I have to go
bye for now
Kiah
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